Forbidden flame: A Zelink story

Chapter 3

"ARABELLE!" I shouted as I sat infront of my mirror, my hair untamed.

"Yes, princess?" She ran in from the bathroom where she was restocking my toiletries.

"Could you do my hair?" I whined as I grimaced at my reflection.

"Uhh, I could try, if you'd like?"

"Yes please." I handed her the brush.

"Just don't fire me if it goes wrong." She chuckled through her nerves.

"No, don't worry. I don't need anything fancy. Just something that can hold a crown easily enough." I said, slipping a grape into my mouth leftover from breakfast. I then dusted my cheeks with blush as Arabelle's rough hands worked their way through strands of my hair. 

"There we go, all finished, your highness. Would you like me to put your crown on for you?"

"Yes, please."

I watched eagerly as my crown was lifted over my head and slowly placed on top. "That looks neat, thank you Arabelle. You may go." 

I added some finishing touches to my dress before taking a few deep breaths. One would think I was getting married, the way I viewed today as my last day of freedom. I sprayed some perfume before leaving my room and making my way down the stairs towards the main training area. The fighting space was surrounded by seats, and small guardians were racked up neatly, all ready to test the knights. 

The thrones sat in front of the fighting space, on a higher platform than the ground itself. The day was sunny and breezy, and people bowed and curtsied as I took my seat next to father. 

"Good morning, Zelda. I hope you are excited. They're all here and doing this for you, you know." I watched as people sweeped the floor, hung ribbons and hummed sweet tunes into the morning air. 

"Yes, I am aware."

After about half an hour, the seats were filled and all eyes were on either me or my father. It was terrifying, to say the least. I felt as though every movement I made was being speculated. Barely any words had passed between me and my father during this time. Only small remarks and meaningless chat.

I had let my head look down at my thumbs for the past few minutes, and I almost jumped when applause erupted from the audience as knights filed into the huge space. I stood up along with my father as the knights got down on one knee as a sign of respect to him.

"Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, welcome to the competition of the knights!" Applause began once again as I did my best to display a smile and look positive. "Now, I am sure we are all aware of the rules. Each knight, who has previously been selected to participate in the competition at all, will have their oppertunity to show their ability through a fight with a small guardian They are like a regular guardian, only they bare weapons and abilities that mimic conscious beings. The ones that manage to defeat said guardian will then go up against one another. The final standing knight will be awarded the position of my daughter's appointed knight." I gave a nod and a smile before returning to my seat. 

"These knights have trained very hard for this; therefore, even if they do not manage to overcome the challenges that our small guardians present them with, their effort is still noble and worthy of admiration. So, please, try to show that in your reactions. Now, before further ado, let the battles begin!"

The first knight, relatively tall with cropped black hair started off very articulated. He knew every move the small guardian was going to make. He was quick and strong, and well-presented. But he got more and more sloppy as the fight went on, and did not overcome the small guardian. The second knight, blonde this time, was less determined; I could tell he was nervous, and the noises from the audience did not help. He didn't manage to win either.

Knight after knight, trial after trial, applause after applause, I got more and more bored and unphased. There were so many of them; so many knights, so many boys putting their all into this so they could get the chance to protect me. Was I really that flattering?

I began to grow restless. It was getting a little cold. I tried not to let any of it show.

That's when it was his turn.

His hair was a dark blonde, his eyes a bright blue. And he was the most amazing knight I had ever seen. 

Every movement was perfect. He did not slip up, not once; he didn't even take a blow to the ground. The fight was quick and one-sided, and all of a sudden it was over, the small guardian on the ground, the boy standing with his sword in his hand and the audience going absolutely feral. 

It was incredible, I smiled and joined in with the applause, fascinated with this boy's super-human abilities.

Once it was time for the final rounds, the boy inevitably came back again. He and his opponent took a bow, got in position, and began fighting. 

The movements were swift and smooth; it was hard to see properly what was going on, but within a matter of seconds, one of the boys was on the ground, the other sliding his sword into his sheath. A tense moment of silence lingered among the crowd before he removed his helmet, revealing his identity as the talented one. That's when everybody cheered again. I laughed in astonishment as I stood up and clapped, a little to the dissaproval of my father.

"Zelda! Sit down." I heard him whisper beside me. I did as he said.

There were two more fights, and the two winners were then pitted against each other. The final winner of that fight would then go up against this talented boy, and whoever won would be my appointed knight. It was tense; I was on the edge of my seat watching, silently hoping I got him; silently hoping I got the talented boy. 

And I did.

And the noise from the audience was ear-splitting.

And suddenly, I had an appointed knight.